Author Interview

When David Mitchell's son was diagnosed with autism at three years old, the British author and his wife Keiko Yoshida felt lost, unsure of what was happening inside their son's head. In an effort to… Audio

Wellington writer John Summers delves into old-school New Zealandness in his new essay collection The Commercial Hotel. Audio

The relationship between mothers and daughters has been a central theme of much of the work by Asian-American writer Amy Tan. The best-selling author, whose books include The Joy Luck Club, The… Audio

New Zealand Biologist Jonathan Balcombe tells Jesse how much we unexpectedly have in common with the common household fly. Audio, Gallery

Real men carry their luggage. Swedish journalist Katrine Marçal says it took so long to have suitcases on wheels because of the way gender shapes innovation. Audio

The dirt beneath our feet can be easy to take for granted. But it's incredibly important for the food we eat, the air we breathe and the water we drink. Twelve years ago Australian chef and food… Audio

As Jeff Bezos,the richest man in the world, prepares to blast off high into space, we'll go deep down into the workings of company Jesse talks to Bloomberg news executive editor Brad Stone about his… Audio

Rupa Maitra was born in Dunedin after her Bengali parents migrated to New Zealand in the late 60s from India, via Uganda. She did a music degree at Otago and followed it up with one in medicine -… Audio

We move around 30% less than our counterparts in the 1960s but  author Caroline Williams says movement is something we need to build back into our lives. She joins us to discuss her new book Move!:… Audio

Acclaimed British author Esther Freud's new novel I Couldn't Love You More is, like much of her writing, deeply autobiographical. It tells the stories of three generations of women, lighting upon what… Audio

Our lives, every experience good or bad, is written in every cell of our bodies. It's powerful and yet vulnerable at the same time says British writer and culture critic Olivia Laing. She looks at the… Audio

Ultramarathon runner Dean Karnazes has been described as the fittest man on the planet. His achievements in running are a testament to the sheer power of human endurance.  Audio

Kathryn speaks with the two women lead the team who created the AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine in just ten months. Oxford University Professor of Vaccinology Dame Sarah Gilbert started designing a… Audio

Being humble is a bit of a national personality trait, but a recruitment expert says Kiwis need to put it to one side when it comes to the job hunt. Author Tom O'Neil has worked in recruitment and HR… Audio

How often have you looked around where you live to identify new ways have fun. Alex Bonham has just written a book Play and the City - How to create places and spaces to help us thrive. Audio

Australian feminist and author Kasey Edwards says self-esteem is a super power. She tells Jesse why it's so important to raise girls who like themselves. Audio

When his long time publisher retired, writer Glenn Colquhoun had a big decision to make. To find a new one, or to enter the thorny world of self-publishing. The poet and childrens' writer has gone… Audio, Gallery

Forget Brokenwood Mysteries, or even Paul Cleave's Christchurch thrillers. Now Ponsonby is our latest literary crime hotspot. Expat Suzanne Frankham, who's now based in Australia, has set her first… Audio

Melbourne journalist Mimi Kwa seemed to be living her best life - "in the suburbs, gorgeous kids... a cavoodle dog and a Burmese cat" - when she was sideswiped by her own father deciding to sue her in… Audio

At the bottom of the ocean, there is a world of light and colour that deep-sea creatures use for light and communication. Dr Edith Widder has spent her career studying bioluminescence. Audio